Issue 8

Page 1

Log

The Northmen’s

Friday, March 26, 2009

Wrestling team takes second at state see p. 2.

Oak Park High School

Issue 8, Volume 45

District addresses uncertain future in budget crisis by Alex Mallin sports editor Despite previously held perceptions that economic troubles would be kept away from schools in the North Kansas City School District, the school board conveyed a different tone at its meeting on Tuesday, March 9*. The board recently released its list of “Potential Cost-Saving Measures” for the district. Many of the proposed cuts included items which would affect school and classroom levels. These measures and several other items filled the agenda for the board’s nearly three-hour meeting in the Antioch Middle School Auditorium. “We are looking at changes

which will definitely affect our instructional programs,” said board treasurer Kathleen Harris. The proposed cuts were a response to future loss of revenue and growth of student population, creating a paradox in forming a balanced budget. “It’s not an easy process,” said district chief financial officer Paul Harrell. “All school districts are going to suffer. Many major districts are going through budget cuts but we are on track to create a balanced budget.” Harrell noted several difficulties in creating the budget. Among them include how Clay County faced a decrease in local revenues of 2 percent, state revenues of 14 percent and the end of stimulus funding for the district in August of 2011; all which trickles down to the district receiving less funding. 90 percent of the district’s revenue derives from state income tax and sales tax, and according to Harrell, Missouri currently has the highest unemployment rate in its history. District Superintendent Todd White said if the district fails to approve a balanced budget soon, it could put the district in a vulnerable position. By not approving a balanced budget in time the school district will have to eat in to funds in the district had previously secured. White also explained how the district got pulled into the current crisis. “It’s not that we are spending money widely or unwisely,” White said. “We have just seen our funding system virtually collapse and there really is no light at the end of the tunnel that we can see at this point.” According to

White, the district cut $16.3 million from its budget over the past three years. In order to release a balanced budget this year however, it will need to restructure and cut an additional $9.4 million. In order for this restructured budget to be transferred into contracts for the next year due by April 1, the district will have to approve it by Tuesday, March 23*. How the budget will meet this $9.4 million landmark has been called into question by students, teachers, and community members. The list of potential cuts includes areas such as eliminating nurse coordinators and health clerks, reducing paid days of many building specialists such as counselors, technology coordinators and media specialists, and increasing the employees’ share of health insurance premiums. According to Harrell, nearly every expense for the district is under some type of review. For students concerned with cuts in areas such as extracurricular activities and further cuts in their academics, the potential cost saving list contains no direct data placing these under the chopping block. According to White, the district hopes to maintain their standard in keeping cuts away from classrooms and students. “If you were to take band, choir and the other activities away from Oak Park it wouldn’t be Oak Park any longer,” White said. “These things breathe life in to a school and it is just counterproductive to believe a school district can serve students and take away those programs.” One of the proposed cuts which several students said they felt would be counterproductive was the bid for a change in the high school schedule from block scheduling to 7-period days. “When I first heard they were planning on switching the schedule I knew it would be a bad idea,” said junior Haley Cope. “Me personally and a lot of other juniors are depending on having eight classes next year.” On Thursday, Feb. 25, the district held a “town halllike” meeting at Oak Park in which it hoped

to hear feedback on several of the proposed cuts. In his pitch of the schedule-change, White advertised it as a way to reduce the number of teachers in a building at one time without having to eliminate any positions. With the lowering of class sizes as one of White’s goals, he promoted the period schedule as a way to “create” 39 teachers out of the central office reorganization completed at the beginning of the year. Through the “Community Conversations” meetings across the district, White, Harrell, and their associates gathered feedback from community members in order to better assist them in the board’s final decision making. “Our community is what makes up our school district,” Harrell said. “We are here as a school district to meet the needs of the community therefore we want to make sure we are meeting their needs and gathering input before we make any changes.” With the gathered feedback from the “Community Conversations” and through other factors White and the board voted to postpone the change of schedule at the March 9 meeting. Rather than it changing next year as originally planned, White proposed the creation of a study committee to research it further and provide the district with a recommended path no later than November 2010. While across the crowded auditorium there were sighs of relief, board president Spencer Fields conveyed his deep concern for the district’s uncertain future. “Things are not ‘honkey dorey.’ We are looking at a $9.5 million deficit,” Fields said. “It’s going to be a very rough road ahead of us in the next couple years.” With this negative forecast for the districts fiscal position, Cope feels in the future the district should show more interest and concern for the opinion of students. “They should communicate with students before considering any cuts that will affect them,” Cope said. “The period change would have affected a lot of people and it seemed like they made no attempt to address our concerns.” *As of press time, the results of the Tuesday, March 23, board meeting were unknown.

District Superintendent Todd White addresses the audience in the main auditorium during a “Community Conversations” session on Thursday, Feb. 25. White and his associates used the meetings to hear feedback from the community on proposed cuts by the district. photo by Gina Drapela, editor-in-chief

Pave the Way provides career experience by Courtney Kelley lifestyles editor While many have advertised the recession being at its end, Northland students still are finding it difficult to become employed. After running into a coordinator of the United Services Community Action Agency, a student and mother introduced Pave the Way to Oak Park. Since OP is the first school in the NKCSD to hold this program, many are still unaware of what Pave the Way is exactly. All Oak Park students received an email briefly explaining the non-schoolsponsored opportunity; students applied as if it was a typical job. In order to attend, directors and counselors looked at the income of a student’s house hold. The mission of USCAA consists of assisting people in payment of electric and

other bills in their budget. “The program is meant to give students a chance to find a job and work on teambuilding,” said A+ coordinator Sharlaine Hemmingsen. “This program is perfect for Oak Park.” Every Monday through Thursday Pave the Way is held in the cafeteria. 40 students must be enrolled for the program to run. Students receive pay checks, at a rate of around $7.05 an hour. Pave the Way consists of a 64hour session. Not only can finding a job be difficult for young students but filling out applications, learning how to work with others and finding one’s transportation to work are all taught. The mission was to help people around the metro of poverty; USCAA’s office is located off Vivion Road. Other schools such as Ruskin, Hickman Mills and Raytown are all participating in Pave the Way. Only working with edu-

cation a few years, the program never thought it would be helping out students according to Hemmingsen. Last fall, with the help of the stimulus bill, money was provided to USCAA giving them an opportunity to help out students everywhere. As summer comes closer, coordinators have talked to businesses around the metro helping students get jobs for the summer. “We learn how to work with coworkers and find out what our drive is to wor,” said a junior participant, whose name was withheld to protect his privacy. While some may find it unimaginable not to be able to put food on the table. Many students are depended on by people at home, Pave the Way contributes to helping them find a fresh start and provide for their families.

Working on a team building activity students raise their hands as each question is asked by coordinator Tara Mulford from USCAA. “The program has taught me so much about how to look for jobs and fill out applications, plus you are getting paid while learning,” said a junior participant.

Nickels provide incentives to perform good deeds by Samantha Colhour copy editor

Norman’s Nickels began circulating last year, with the purpose of recognizing students who do good deeds. While many students participated last year, news of the program didn’t affect as many kids as it has this year. “We began this because we wanted to reward those who were choosing to do the right thing,” said assistant principal Mark Maus. With the loss of newness surrounding the nickel opportunity, school officials took the chance to reinvent the program.

“One major difference this year how often you can renew your nickels,” Maus said. “Kids can now renew them every travel day (Tuesday and Wednesday) during advisory. I think this is one of the best things we have changed this year. With it not being new anymore, it’s easier for teachers and students to forget. With this change, it’s constant and harder to forget about.” Besides the rate at which students can turn in nickels, the prizes offered have also changed. Prizes now include: personalized stickers for mini-notes, spirit wear and cookies. “One thing I have learned this year is that kids want cookies,” Maus said. “I also

think that the kids are responding to the spirit wear, especially the baseball hats.” Kids responded well to the change in prizes, according to Spanish teacher Cathi Postma who runs the cart with prizes. “The better prizes this year have seemed to really help,” Postma said. “I have been doing the cart since we started the program, and this year there seems to be a lot of students participating. “ According to Postma, one student consistently comes down with a nickel almost each time she is at the cart. Sophomore Eugena Baker has used many of her travel days to trade in her nickel. “I have gotten a lot of nickels,” Baker

Seniors Blaire White and Laura Hulfield prepare boxes to send to Hillcrest Transitional living on Wednesday, March 3. photo by Gina Drapela, editor-in-chief

NHS supports charity by hosting food drive Gabrielle Young editorial editor The National Honor Society students found a way to get the school involved in helping others by supporting the Hillcrest Transitional living program, with the Feb.22 - March 12 food drive. The program started in 1976 and helps those in poverty to become self-sufficient, through a 90-day program. According to science teacher Kimberly Bennett the food pantry usually runs low during the months of January, February and March. For that reason advisory classes were asked to get involved and bring various food items and hospitality items as an incentive earn a pizza party. The advisory class gathering the most points was communication arts teacher Callie Smothers advisory, winning a class pizza party. With the incentive used as a bonus for students to help out, the hope from this was that students would learn something from helping. “Students should get a commitment as they become adults to give back to the community,” Bennett said. “It would be great if giving back became a habit for all of us.” Whether or not students helped because they wanted to or to receive the pizza, in both ways the program was given support. Although the economy has been in a struggling battle, most people still have more privileges then those who were previously living in poverty. When helping others people have the ability to get their mind of themselves. “There are people in harder times then we are, and people become selfish,” said senior Renee Hemmie. The supplies gathered by students and teachers were taken to the Hillcrest transitional housing to be stored in the pantry, waiting to be distributed to those in need of a helping hand.

said. “I help teachers with things. I help students because I like to be nice. Sometimes I even pick up trash around the school. I love getting the cookies. The rewards are worth it to me.” With the changes made this year and the changes to come, Maus sees this as a program that will continue for the future years to come. “As long as we keep seeing the results we are seeing, then I think the reward really helps,” Maus said. “The one thing we will have to focus on changing in the coming years is how to recognize those kids that have always made good decisions. “


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